_A.M. 2289. B.C. 1715._ Two things Providence is here bringing about, 1, The advancement of Joseph. 2, The maintenance of Jacob and his family in a time of famine; for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth, and direct the affairs of the children of men. In order to these, here is,... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the end of two full years_ After the butler's restoration to his place. No doubt Joseph was some considerable time in prison before the keeper of the prison would so far trust him as to commit the other prisoners, especially the state prisoners, to his charge; and he was some time confined with... [ Continue Reading ]
_There came out of the river_ A just and proper emblem this, because both the fruitfulness and barrenness of the land of Egypt depended, under God, on the increase or diminution of the waters of that river. _Well-favoured kine, and fat-fleshed_ Signifying plenty of grass, whereby they had been thus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven ears of corn on one stalk_ These also were fit emblems of the thing intended, especially as the fertility of that country did chiefly consist in its producing abundance of corn.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blasted by the east wind_ Coming through the parched deserts of Arabia, and very pernicious in Egypt. Thevenot, in his _Travels_, part 1, Genesis 50:2, c. 34, says, that in the year 1658 two thousand men were destroyed in one night by one of these blasting winds.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His spirit was troubled_ Because he was impressed with an idea that the dreams were supernatural, that something extraordinary was intended by them, and because he understood not their meaning, and dreaded the consequences. Compare Genesis 40:6; Daniel 2:1; and Matthew 27:19. He called for the _mag... [ Continue Reading ]
_I remember my faults this day_ In forgetting Joseph; or rather, he means his faults against Pharaoh, for which he was imprisoned; and thus he would insinuate, that, though Pharaoh had forgiven him, he had not forgiven himself. God's time for the enlargement of his people will appear, at last, to be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Me he restored unto mine office_ That is, Joseph foretold his restoration to his office, and the execution of the other. Thus Jeremiah is said _to pull down_ and _destroy_ those nations, whose downfall and destruction he only foretold, Jeremiah 1:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brought him out of the dungeon_ Or prison; for, as Joseph was now so much employed, and intrusted with all the affairs of the prison and prisoners, it is not probable that he should still be kept confined in the dungeon, properly so called. The king could scarce allow him time, but that decency req... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is not in me_ I cannot do this by any virtue, or power, or art of my own; but only by the inspiration of the great God. 1st, Thus he gives the honour to God, to whom it was due, and leads Pharaoh to the knowledge of him. Great gifts then appear most graceful and illustrious, when those that have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven years of great plenty_ See the goodness of God, in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made accordingly. How wonderful wisely has Providence that great house-keeper, ordered the affairs of his numerous family from the beginning! Great variety of s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven years of famine_ See the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great increase of the years of plenty was _quite lost_ and _swallowed up_ in the years of famine; and the over-plus of it, which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep men alive.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Pharaoh look out a man_ It was not presumption in Joseph to offer this advice to Pharaoh, considering that God, by him, had given Pharaoh the fore-knowledge of what was about to come to pass, and what greatly concerned both him and his whole kingdom. Indeed, the advice was only that he should m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let him appoint officers to take up a fifth part_ Not by force or violence, but by purchase at the common price, which would probably be very low during these years of plenty. But why only a _fifth part_, seeing the years of famine were to be as many as the years of plenty? 1st, Because people woul... [ Continue Reading ]
_According to thy word_ Thy direction and command, the word _mouth_, as the Hebrew is, being often put for command; _shall all my people be ruled_ Or be fed. They shall receive their provisions from thy hand, and according to thy disposal. But the Hebrew is, _at thy mouth shall my people kiss_, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pharaoh took off his ring_ Which was both a token of the highest dignity, and an instrument of the greatest power; _and put it on Joseph's hand_ Thereby giving him authority to make and sign what decrees he thought fit in the king's name. _He made him ride in the second chariot_ That he might be kn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot_ A hyperbolical phrase, signifying that all the affairs of the kingdom should pass through his hands. _Only in the throne will I be greater than thou_ It is probable there were those about court that opposed Joseph's preferment, which occasioned Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joseph was thirty years old_ So that his life had been a life of humiliation and suffering for about thirteen years. But the season of peculiar and great affliction, whereby his faith and patience, and all his graces, had been tried to the uttermost, had prepared him for his subsequent exaltation,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two sons_ In the names he gave them, he owned the divine providence giving this happy turn to his affairs. He was made to _forget his misery_, but could he be so unnatural as to _forget all his father's house?_ And he was made _fruitful in the land of his affliction._ It had been the land of his af... [ Continue Reading ]
_The seven years of death began to come_ Not only in Egypt, but in other lands, that is, all the neighbouring countries.... [ Continue Reading ]